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Description:
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The benefits
of vitamins are not news, but we need them as surely as we need air to
breath and water to drink. Make no mistake; a good supplement regimen
starts with adequate vitamin intake.
B Vitamins
are essential for maintaining healthy nerves, skin, hair, eyes, liver
and mouth and also good for muscle tone in the gastrointestinal tract.
They give us energy and are necessary to metabolize carbohydrates, fats
and proteins. Because B vitamins are water soluble, our bodies naturally
flush them away everyday. Physical and emotional stress, alcohol, dieting
and our typical "on-the-go" lifestyles also increase their loss.
That is why it is so important to replenish them daily.
The B-complex vitamins are a group of similarly structured compounds,
which is why we refer to them as a "complex". This complex of
chemicals consists of B1 (thiamine), B-2 (riboflavin), B-3 (niacin), B-5
(pantothenic acid), B-6 (pyridoxine), B-7 (biotin), B-12 (cobalamin),
and folic acid (folate or folacin). PABA, inositol and choline are often
included in this group. The Bcomplex of vitamins are used in the proper
formation of every cell in your body - particularly nerve cells. This
is why it is so important for pregnant women to get their B's (especially
folic acid) and why a deficiency in certain of the B's manifests itself
first as low mood or moodiness. The most common nutritional deficiency
in the world is folic acid deficiency, which is characterized by low mood,
and can lead to neural tube defects in the developing, unborn child. Deficiency
in either vitamin B-12 or B-6 can also bring about low mood, and often
mask folic acid deficiency. B vitamins are not stored well in the body
and are depleted rapidly in dieters, and caffeine and alcohol users. The
B-complex is used throughout the body in methylation reactions and is
particularly effective against low mood, moodiness, muscular weakness
and B vitamins provide:
- health
of the skin, bones, hair and muscle
- health
of the mucosal membranes, particularly around the mouth
- intestinal
health and bowel function
- relief
of moodiness, restlessness, irritability, insomnia and fatigue
- improved
liver health
- brain
cell function and health
- relief
from skin problems, including dry and itchy skin and rashes relief from
PMS
Any of these
problems could indicate a B-vitamin deficiency, particularly moodiness,
restlessness, irritability, insomnia, muscular weakness, and sore or dry
mouth and tongue. In the cover story of the August 11, 1997, issue of
Newsweek was the following statement that the Attorney General should
mail to every single person: "An avalanche of new studies suggest
that an amino acid called homocysteine plays a critical role in destroying
our arteries--perhaps as large a role as smoking or cholesterol."
Homocysteine
is as large a risk factor in heart disease as smoking or cholesterol.
Because they are methyl donors, the B-complex helps to reduce the build-up
of homocysteine, making it an excellent heart-health supplement. It is
well established that a person's measure of blood plasma homocysteine
acts as a biochemical marker inversely indicating folate levels.1 When
a person's blood plasma folate levels are high, their homocysteine levels
are low. As folate levels decrease, homocysteine levels increase along
with an increased chance for heart disease.2,3 Folate reduces homocysteine.
B-6 (pyridoxine).
One of the water-soluble vitamins, Vitamin B-6 is needed for a wide
array of bodily functions, particularly in the handling of amino acid
reactions. Here are some of the more interesting functions B-6 performs
in the body: metabolizes cysteine to pyruvic acid, works with phosphorylase
to convert glycogen to glucose, works to synthesize fatty acids and metabolize
cholesterol, is used to produce a variety of neurotransmitters including
serotonin. B-6 deficiencies are general feelings of weakness, depression,
moodiness, sleep disturbances, irritability, poor coordination, elevated
levels of homocysteine and a whole host of immune system deteriorations.
B-6 supports the immune system, may help alleviate depression, and might
relieve the pain of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.5 A 1995 double-blind study
published in the American Journal of Obstetric Gynecology, examined 342
pregnant women who were given 30 mg of B6 daily, or a placebo. The women
rated their symptoms by the severity of their nausea and the number of
vomiting episodes. The B6 group developed significantly fewer symptoms
than the placebo group, leaving the researchers to conclude that regular
use of B6 can significantly reduce the symptoms of morning sickness.
While the
B vitamins are found in foods, some are lost in cooking and excess of
one B can result in a depletion of another. This is one vitamin we suggest
taking as a complete supplement.
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